The Stone Angel – Margaret Laurence
Chapter One
1. The information that Hagar reveals about herself in her recollections of the stone
angel are she is bitter, vengeful, strong, she’s open minded, and very spiteful.
Her father is cold, very concerned about the dynasty of his family, shellfish, and
seems and cares deeply about his status in society.
2. The cemetery flowers are a symbolic of the struggle between wilderness and
civilization because Hagar when she was a little girl loved to walk through trails.
She would always get dirty since the trails were only dirt. Which shows that the
town is not civilized like any city.
3. “Smart as a whip, if only she is, she’d been a boy”. Her father wanted a boy to
carry on the family name. Since Hagar was a girl she wouldn’t be able to carry on
the name. Since later on in the novel we learn both of her brothers died so the
name would end with her.
4. When Hagar says “I regretted that he’d... sired us here”. Hagar thinks that
Scotland can offer her more imagination, pride, and interesting things would be
going on. Hagar thinks the prairies are boring, dull, and to predictable.
5. The meeting between Jason Currie Lottie Drieser is unexpected and very
inappropriate. Its inappropriate because they are meeting in a cemetery in the
middle of the day. The comments he made after her death was she could of had
much of a life, her type isn’t much loss in a town, and the lord works in
mysterious ways.
6. The money that Matt managed to save was spent on a fighting cock. He spent
the money because he knew who wouldn’t get anywhere in life so he spent on
something stupid and pointless.
7. Hagar loves her brother very much but doesn’t have a whole lot respect for her
brother. Matt asked her to put on their mothers dress. Hagar was unable to do
this because she didn’t want to show weakness, since she assumes her mother
was weak.
8. Marvin- Hagar’s only son living. Hagar brings him down and he rarely stands up
for himself or his wife. Doris is Hagar’s daughter in law. Hagar always brings her
down by calling her a slon and big boned. Hagar never shows any respect for
Doris or what she does for her. Doris in my opinion is a nice , unappreciated
woman.
9. I feel more sympathetic towards Marvin. Since he’s in his fifties or sixties, but yet
still has to look after his mother. Most people at that age would be relaxing and
enjoying the rest of their life. But in Marvin’s case he has to look after and worry
about his mother.
Chapter 2
1. Hagar describes Mr. Troy the minister as annoying and also making fun of
him both in her head and verbally. She calls him “gods little man”, and that he
does everything by the book. Hagar thinks he doesn’t know too much since
he’s so young and inexperienced. She also thinks he’s bashful and young.
Since he tries to impress her with is knowledge.
2. Hagar’s reference to herself as a “Pharaoh’s daughter” is she feels that her
father is one of the respected men in town. The same way a Pharaoh would
be in Egypt. Also the dynasty or the bloodline which Mr. Currie is so very
concerned about is another reason she refers to herself as a Pharaoh’s
daughter.
3. Based on what we know about what she said about Jason Currie. Is that the
comments Hagar made are not very accurate. Since even at an old age so
remembers everything in such great detail. That doesn’t make sound very
true. She’s making sound like a king or a pharaoh some sort or royalty. But in
reality they’re just an above average family
4. Jason Currie intended Hagar to be another “monument” of his greatness
because he loves to show off his wealth. Also if Hagar was his daughter she
would be respected by everyone in town since her family is better off than
most other families in town. But since she’s a woman she won’t be able to
carry the name.
5. Bram Shipley is a strong built man. He has dark hair and a beard. He is very
opened minded and very blunt. He’s an outgoing person since he asks Hagar
to dance with him. He cares what other people think of him and always tries
to impress Hagar either physical or with gifts. Hagar marries him for spite
against her father. Since he was a Shipley just a simple farming family
wouldn’t deserve to marry someone like Hagar. Whose family is somewhat
higher class above everyone else. Also she marries him because the fact she
couldn’t become a teacher, she would marry someone that would be of her
standards. She also marries Bram to embarrass Mr. Currie and so everyone
in town would think less of the Curries.
6. The members of Hagar’s family react to the marriage by showing
disappointment. Jason Currie doesn’t want her to marry Bram and thinks she
could do better. Matt had a gift but didn’t send it because he frightened that
their father would find it. Aunt Dolly went to the wedding and didn’t really
have anything to say.
7. Bram’s gift of a “cut-glass decanter with a silver top” was a fancy glass to hold
liquor in. Bram wanted to impress her by buying her something of her class or
style. The way she was brought up. Her response to his gift was it was
nothing. She was hardly impressed at all. She says “I took it so casually, and
laid it aside, and thought no more about it”. Which shows it was just a
pointless gift for her and Bram expected her to do this.
8. Bram and Hagar differ in their physical side of their relationship because
Bram acts like a beast and he experienced since he was married before. It
seems Hagar doesn’t know what to do since she is a virgin. She complains
about it . But later on in the novel she complains about how she misses the
physical side of Bram.
Chapter 3
1. When Hagar is called a “young lady” by the doctor she is very annoyed. She
feels like he is degrading her into a kid. Since she is quite old she feels like
she’s a joke to him or something and is very annoyed. It’s almost like the
doctor is babying her and she feels like everyone around her are treating her
different since she’s old.
2. What Hagar reveals about her feelings in the last lines in chapter three is that
the house she owns is no longer hers. But it is now Marvin and Doris’s house
since they now have the deed to the house. Which, is another reason why
Hagar feels that she is being treated unfairly due to her age.
3. Evidence from the book that shows Hagar was biased against Marvin from
birth is “ That the child he wanted would be his, and none of mine?” They
want him more then they want her according to Hagar.
4. “ If I had the wings of an angel/ Or even the wings of a crow/ I would fly to the
top of T. Eaton’s/ and spit on the people below”. This can be interpreted into a
metaphor for Hagar because she thinks she is so much better then everyone
else. She thinks she is above everyone else and even if her and Bram do get
married so thinks she still will be on top looking down on people and judging.
5. Hagar and Bram’s relationship might of changed if Bram sought comfort from
Hagar after Soldier’s death because she might of thought that he was weak
and then she would lose respect for him. Which she has done with several
other characters in the book over stupid little things that most people wouldn’t
even consider weak.
Chapter 4
1. Hagar could not express her feelings to Marvin when he was leaving for war
because she couldn’t show weakness but instead she shoots him down. This
moment was a reminiscent of her failure to communicate with Bram after
Soldier’s death because she loves Bram and Marvin but will not show it.
When they need it the most or try to even comfort them at the very least in
serious situations.
2. Bram thought it was necessary to apologize after sex because he thought it
was punishing her and also that’s the only way he show his emotional
feelings towards Hagar. Their feelings are similar because they don’t express
them openly. They differ because Bram is more open minded and tries to
impress Hagar and Hagar just can’t show weakness of any sort.
3. Hagar is so fussy about John’s habits of speech because he swears like
Bram does. Hagar thinks that he talks like a Shipley and she tries to
encourage him to have habits like a Currie.
4. Some examples of Marvin trying to impress Hagar from childhood to
adulthood are when he filled up the wood box. He asked to see what a good
job he did and she didn’t even look and said it would be just fine. Another
example is when Marvin is heading off to war. Hagar doesn’t even show any
compassion towards him and acts like its nothing major but just something
minor.
5. The type of statement Hagar was making when she walked out of the Currie
store with Bram was to show everyone that Bram wasn’t as good as her and
she wanted to cause a scene.
Chapter 5
1. Three examples of Hagar’s inability to express her feelings to members of
her family is when Marvin goes to war. When Marvin is leaving she
doesn’t say anything she acts like it’s no big deal and he’s doing nothing
that really matters. Another example is when Soldier dies. Hagar isn’t
even sympathetic towards him and in Bram’s mind he must be thinking it’s
another bad investment gone wrong. Another example is when her son
John is dying. She acted like it was mutual and did show some remorse
when he asks her what happened to the girl he was with. She said she
was a live but really she was dead.
2. What is ironic about Hagar becoming a housekeeper is that Aunt Dolly
was a house a keeper and Hagar said that she would never want to be a
housekeeper herself.
3. John’s new friends are similar to Hagar’s childhood friends because
John’s new friends are high class. But really he just made them up. Hagar
finds this out when she calls the doctor house to ask if John was there.
The doctor didn’t never heard of John Shipley. John’s real friends are like
Bram. Since they’re drinking and cussing like Bram. This is a reason why
he never told his mother the truth. Since he want to impress her.
4. The regression of Hagar’s relationship with John was he was being
rebellious against his mother. Hagar loses respects for him when he lies
about his friends and also when he cusses and appears weak when he’s
unable to lift the stone statue.
5. Bram simply said “hard boil a few eggs” because he didn’t know what to
say to Hagar and he was mocking her. If Bram did try to get her to stay it
would be hard to say how she would react. Either she think he was weak
or think that he was standing up for their marriage.
Chapter 6
1. Hagar’s fear when she was laying alone at night at the fish cannery was
she wished that Bram could be there to lean against her and to protect
her. She then also realizes how much she does miss Bram and that she
will still always love him.
2. The ways that John has changed since his return home are he is an
alcoholic and he is fooling around with Arlene. Bram’s and John’s
relationship has changed because John is starting to turn out to be like
Bram by drinking and cussing all the time. But John does look out for
Bram when he is dying.
3. The intended irony in Hagar’s words when she finds out what has
happened to John’s knife is that he said he traded it for a pack of smokes.
Which shows how much he really cared for the family treasure. At first he
lies about saying he lost but really he did trade for something that is not
even worth anything.
4. The reason why Hagar returns home when she learns that Bram is sick ,
is because she still cares from Bram and wants to be when he dies. She
also feels that she has to be there because they are married and also
because they were a family for so many years.
5. John has always tried to please Bram because he was more manly and
also worked on the farm and such. Marvin cares for his mother when she’s
older. For the longest time Hagar always thought of John more than
Marvin but in the end, Marvin ends up caring for Hagar. John ends up
being like Bram.
6. Hagar didn’t believe John when he said “some drunk” pushed over the
stoned angel because he acted so casual about it. John probably did it
because he knew it meant something to his mother. Also it couldn’t of
been an accident because the statue had red lipstick on it.
7. When John said the Curries and Shipleys were “only different sides of the
same coin” is they are all the same but different statuses in society. Both
families are hard working , very concerned about their families, and are
the founding families of the town.
8. The symbolism of the stone angel at its current state is old, aged, and not
as beautiful as it once was. You can say it symbolizes Hagar at her age
since she’s older and beaten up.
9. The significance of burying Bram in the Currie family plot was to show to
her father that you will always remember that his daughter married a
Shipley. Also some sort of revenge and to show that the Curries and
Shipleys are connected.
10. The irony of Hagar being mistaken as Bram’s first wife is Hagar thought
she was a slob. Also Hagar thought she was always better then Clara.
Chapter 7
1. Hagar was so defensive when Jess called John “Johnny” because
John was his given name. Johnny to her sounds weak and improper.
She feels like no one else deserves to give him a name.
2. When Hagar says “Take warning my girl. You’ll be sorry” is that she
realizes some of the mistakes she made with her loved ones and
wishes now she could of changed them. If she had of not left Bram,
maybe he would of lived longer. Maybe if Hagar was a better mother
John wouldn’t of been an alcoholic and died in a car crash.
3. Unlike Hagar, John expresses his feelings openly to everyone except
Hagar. He doesn’t express his feelings to Hagar because she never
expressed her feelings ever to anyone. John probably thought if he did
express his feelings to her she would of thoughtless of him or lose
respect for him.
4. John’s actions in this chapter, mirrors his father’s actions of years gone
by relationships. John was very open about his relationship just like
Bram was. They are both alcoholics, and rebellious. Neither one of
them cared what other people thought of them and could never
express their feelings towards Hagar.
5. Hagar is like the Ancient Mariner because when she is at the fish
cannery she is surrounded by water. She is thirsty but can’t drink it
because its salt water. Just like the Ancient Marnier who is on the boat
and cannot drink the water because its salt water. Also the injured
seagull which flies into the room. Instead of killing it, she lets it fly
away. A few moments later it is attacked by animals and suffers.
Ancient Marnier kills an albatross for no apparent reason.
6. When Hagar says “They crate me up in the car and deliver me like a
parcel of old clothes to that place” is she’s old and putting her in a
nursing home is like dropping off things you don’t want or can’t keep
anymore.
7. The reason why Hagar remembers the incident with Lottie and the
baby chicks is because it was a significant event in her life. Lottie
doesn’t remember it because it wasn’t important to her. This reveals
that each characters value different things.
8. John visits Jesse instead of Hagar when he wants to talk about his
father because Jesse would talk about all the good things Bram has
accomplished. Hagar would talk about all the times he failed and how
he wasn’t a good role model.
9. Hagar’s argument with John about Lottie is reminiscent of the
argument she had years ago with her own father is her father didn’t
want her to get married and Hagar didn’t want John to get married.
They are both hypocrites.
10. From Hagar’s point of view, John and Arlene’s relationship is childish.
They are both driven by lust and sexual desire. They act like they are a
married couple.
Chapter 8
1. The importance of John’s revelation to Hagar: “Marv was your boy
but you never saw that” is to try to convince Hagar that Marvin was
a better son then John ever was. Which the reader knew all long.
But Hagar being the hard headed woman she is never realizes it.
2. The episode with Hagar and the seagull is a larger pattern in the
book because everyone she loves suffers. She killed the chicks
when they were suffering. But when it came to people she loved
she did nothing but watch or let them die without telling them how
she felt.
3. When Hagar says “ I’d has so many things to say to him, so many
things to put right” is how she loved him and wished she could of
expressed her feelings openly.
4. The point of bringing Murray Lees into the novel is to show that
everybody has horrible events in their lives and try to move on.
Murray son died in a house fire which was his felt. He could of
prevented it. Hagar could of prevented some of the deaths or
postpone them of her loved ones.
5. Hagar’s view point of her son’s character has changed since his
death was he turned out to be more a Shipley than a Currie. Since
the reason why he died was due to alcohol.
6. Yes by the end of the novel Marvin will be able to please his mother
because she realizes that he was the better son and did care
deeply for him and tries to comfort him before she dies.
7. Hagar’s range of emotions when she first encounters Murray Lees
is she was furious and thought Marvin sent him to get her. Then
she thinks he is boring when he tells her he sells insurance. After
she can relate to him when he talks about how his son died. Overall
she does like Mr. Lees.
8. “ A bird in the house mean a death in the house” is foreshadowing
the death of Hagar.
9. What Hagar means when she says “He might have been killed or
saved. Who’s to know” is talking about how if John did go to war he
could of died a hero or survived the war and be a hero.
Chapter 9
1. Hagar lets Mrs. Jardine believe that “John” was her husband’s
name because it makes no difference to Hagar at this point when
she is in the hospital. Also she might be confused.
2. What has happened to Hagar and Murray Lees is Hagar apologizes
for the way she acted towards him when Marvin and Doris go to
pick her up. She apologizes for what happened to his son that died
in a house fire. Yes I think he is the only man that Hagar can relate
to. Since his son’s death was preventable and tragic. Just like how
Hagar’s son death was preventable and tragic.
3. Some examples of Hagar’s deterioration in the hospital are she
doesn’t care what husband’s name was, she cares that Doris
wasn’t with Marvin, she needs to get help from the nurse and from
the other patients, and she tells Marvin how she feels.
4. It would be unfair for Doris to die before Hagar because Hagar was
bitter for most of her life and never really cared for anyone but
herself. Doris looked after her mother in law when she was
suppose to be enjoying her retirement, but she stuck looking after
someone that doesn’t appreciate her.
5. Hagar’s impulse to pardon Murray Lees is out of character because
she doesn’t really know him but still is sympathetic towards him.
Not even her loved ones Hagar gives sympathy. But the reason
why she is sympathetic is because she went through the same
thing with her son.
6. Yes Hagar’s character under goes significant changes because she
opens up to Marvin which she was never able to do, shows
compassion towards Doris, needs help from other people around.
Hagar was always a independent woman.
Chapter 10
1. Marvin calls his mother a “holy terror” because she realizes
Marvin was a better son. She responds by saying “he spoken
with such anger and tenderness”.
2. Hagar becomes angry when Marvin moves her to a private
room because she feels like the every room is getting smaller
and smaller and implies that as her world is getting smaller.
Hagar feels isolated and alone.
3. I think the character of Sandra Wong is to try to get sympathy
for Hagar before she dies. Also Hagar uses her to pass on the
knowledge she learned in life and try to guide her to the right
things to do in life.
4. Hagar is eager to get away from the Shipley place while on
“vacation” because she seen the place prosper and it makes her
wonder why it couldn’t of been like that when her and Bram
were there together.
5. I think Doris’s motives for brining Mr. Troy to see Hagar were
selfish because she knew that Hagar never did respect him but
she might og thought Hagar wanted to confess her sins. It’s
quite hard to say because it doesn’t go into quite a lot of detail in
the book.
6. No I do not think that Marvin accepts the lie because the
comment he made after by calling his mother a “holy terror”.
7. When Mr. Troy is singing Hagar finds out that she wishes that
she could of lived her more freely and enjoyed. Instead of being
miserable and fearing what other people thought of her.
8. Hagar does not “go gentle into that good night” because she is
fighting. She’s even fighting when the nurse is trying to give her
the water. Hagar is fighting the whole time she in the hospital
and by the end rejoices for everything she done wrong in life
and finally dies.
Stone Angel Test
Each multiple choice question and true and false question is worth
onemark each. Read the questions carefully. They’re to be done on scan
tron.
1. What type a business does Jason Currie own?
a) liquor store
b) General store
c) Furniture store
d) Coffee shop
2. What does Hagar’s brother Matt spend all his money on?
a) a cow
b) a bike
c) a cock
d) a horse
3. Who is the only one to attend Hagar’s and Bram’s wedding?
a) Aunt Dolly
b) Jason Currie
c) Johnny Cash
d) Matt Currie
4. What does Bram buy Hagar for a wedding present?
a) Glass decanter
b) Radio
c) Necklace
d) He forgot, getting married was bad enough
5. How does Murray Lees son die?
a) He didn’t
b) Car accident
c) House fire
d) Drowned
6. What kind of bird flies into the fishing cannery?
a) Albatross
b) Dove
c) Eagle
d) Seagull
7. Who else gets buried at Jason Currie’s plot?
a) Bram
b) John
c) Hagar
d) Marvin
8. How much money does Hagar receive from Mr. Oatley’s estate?
a) 200 $
b) 10,000$
c) Nothing
d) 1000 $
9. What does Murray Lees offer Hagar in the fish cannery?
a) Cigarette
b) Soda
c) Chocolate
d) Sandwich
10. How did Hagar make extra money while living with Bram?
a) House work
b) Selling eggs
c) Sewing
d) Selling vegetables
11. What was the name of Bram’s first wife?
a) Jess
b) Arlene
c) Molly
d) Clara
12. Who does Jason Currie meet at the cemetery?
a) He was going for a walk
b) Lottie Drieser’s mother
c) Clara
d) Matt
13. Who turns out to be like Bram?
a) Marvin
b) Hagar
c) John
d) Jason Currie
14. How does Jason Currie die?
a) Cancer
b) We never find out
c) Stroke
d) Car accident
15. What does Hagar take before she runs away?
a) Old age pension check
b) Food
c) Blanket
d) Her diary
16. Hagar never left Bram T/F
17. Jason Currie disproved Hagar’s and Bram’s wedding T/F
18. Hagar wanted to become a teacher T/F
19. Hagar was married once before T/F
20. Bram once played in a band T/F
21. Jason Currie wished Hagar was a boy T/F
22. Hagar always believed in Bram’s ideas would work T/F
23. John got married T/F
24. Hagar only had two sons T/F
25. Hagar carried on the Currie dynasty T/F
Short Answer worth two marks each. Complete sentences.
26. Compare Hagar’s character at the beginning of the book, to when she in the
hospital.
27. Could any of the deaths of Hagar’s loved ones could of been postponed?
28. Does Marvin actually believe Hagar when she tells that she knows that he was
the better son?
Long Answer worth five marks each.
29. Compare and contrast Hagar’s character to Othello’s character.
30. Explain the dynasty theme that is curried on throughout the book.
Timeline
Hagar’s mother dies giving birth to Hagar. This is significant because of this
incident Hagar doesn’t show weakness.
Jason Currie meets Lottie Drieser’s mother in a cemetery. Hagar was probably 7
or 8
Hagar’s brother Matt buys a fighting cock and kills its after it loses a fight. This is
significant because Matt realizes that he can never leave or achieve anything.
Hagar was probably 8 or 9.
Matt wants to go to University. But his father won’t allow it. Hagar should of let
him go instead of her.
Hagar goes to university and returns to Manawaka and wants to become a
teacher but her father will not allow her. He wants her to stay at home and marry.
Hagar is 22 when she returns.
Hagar’s brother dies.
She meets Bram Shipley at a dance. He is 14 years older than her.
They get married shortly after. Aunt Dolly is the only one that attends the
wedding. Matt wanted to give her a gift but he knew his father would of got mad.
Bram’s horse Soldier leaves the farm. Bram goes out looking for him. The next
day he finds him dead. Hagar doesn’t show any remorse for him.
Hagar gives birth to Marin. She might be in her 30’s
Bram urinates on her father’s store steps. That shows Bram has no respect for
her family.
Jason Currie dies.
Marvin joins World War one at age seventeen. Hagar doesn’t wish him luck or
anything she acts so mutual about it.
John and Hagar leave Manawaka. Hagar might be in her early 40’s. This is
significant because she is still married to Bram and still likes him and years later
he’s dies and Hagar never tells him how she feels.
Hagar stays with Mr.Oatley and she is a maid. She’s probably in early 40’s.
Hagar said she never wanted to be like Aunt Dolly which is ironic.
John can’t make enough money, so he goes back to the Shipley barn. Then
Hagar learns that he was communicating with Marvin and Bram the whole time.
A few years later John wrote to Hagar saying Bram was dying.
Hagar returns to Manawaka to find out that John is allot like is father by the way
he acts and talks.
John and Hagar go to the cemetery to see the Currie plot. The stone statue is
knocked over. That is significant because when John is trying to push it back up
its like Jacob and the angel. But John cannot push it back and he gets tired and
cusses the whole time.
A few weeks or months later Bram dies. They burry him in the Currie plot right
beside Jason Currie. It could of been for spite. John cries and Hagar doesn’t
react or show any sympathy.
While cleaning out Bram’s attic she found a box that belonged to Clara. Bram’s
first wife. She decided to give it to her Jess Bram’s daughter. When she gets
there John is there with Arlene. She then learns about their relationship. She
says her family is nothing special.
They later decide to become a couple either one of them with a job. John
became an alcoholic. Arlene decided to move east for a year. John got her
pregnant. That same night Henry Pearl found Hagar and told her that John was
drinking at a dance and got in a car accident. She goes to the hospital to see
John. John asks if Arlene is ok. Hagar says yes even know she knows she is
dead. That is quite surprising for Hagar. A few moments later John asks for some
painkillers. He realized she could not help him or say anything to him. He then
dies. That is a moment of miss opportunity for Hagar again. To show how she
feels.
Hagar then returns to Mr. Oatley. A year later he dies. He left Hagar ten
thousand dollars in his will.
Hagar in her 90’s learns that Marvin now has the deed to the house. So Hagar is
pretty well nothing now, since she doesn’t own anything.
When Hagar is in her 90’s she founds her old age pension and leaves. She takes
a bus and gets some food and leads towards the old fish cannery. There she
sees a seagull fly into the room and says “a bird in the house is a death in the
house”. That foreshadows her death later in the book. Instead of killing the
injured seagull, she lets it suffer and later gets ripped by two dogs. Murray Lees
enters the scene. They soon become friends. He opens up to her and tells him
about his son. After this incident Marvin and Doris come to get Hagar. Hagar
then apologizes for what happened to his son. Which in unlike Hagar.
Marvin and Doris take her to the hospital. She meets some people and lies about
what happened to her son saying he died in the Great War. She is then later
moved into a private room. Mr. Troy arrives. He sings her a song. She realizes
that she lived her life all wrong. She regrets that she did this. Later on that night
Marvin enters the room. She says that Marvin was always the one this whole
time. Marvin doesn’t believe her. Later that night when she is trying to drink the
water she dies.
Marvin is important character to the book. He helps to progress the plot. When Marvin is
first born we learn that Hagar was already biased against him from the beginning. Hagar
always thought he was going to take after the Shipley side. When Marvin was a little kid
he always tried to impress his mother by doing chores. She would say he did a good
job, but she would never look to see what he done. We don’t learn too much about
Marvin when he was a child. He works on the family farm. He’s known to be a good
worker and to get things done. Bram greatly respects him for that. Marvin never went to
university. Marvin was always competing against John since John was their mother’s
favourite.
Marvin signs up for the Great War. Hagar acts like it was no big deal. She
doesn’t wish him luck or shows any compassion for him. Marvin doesn’t leave with
Hagar and John when they head east when Hagar decides to leave Bram. Marvin just
keeps working on the farm. Later on in life he decides to get married to Doris. He has a
few kids.
When Hagar is too old to take care of herself, Marvin decides to bring her in and
to look after her. Instead of enjoying his retirement he is instead looking after his mother
like any good son would do. Hagar always loved his mother deeply but was never
shown any love back. He looks for his mother when she goes missing. Also he wants
her to go the nursing home she could get the best care possible.
Hagar goes into the hospital. When she is on her death bed she says that she
realized it was Marvin who was a better son the whole time. He then calls his mother a
“holy terror”. Marvin’s character from a readers respective doesn’t develop that much ,
but the reader can gain pity from the way he was treated throughout his life.
Bram Shipley is first introduced in to the book when Hagar goes to the dance. He
is a strong, very attractive, and young looking men. He is a hard working man and is
dedicated to his work on the farm. Jason Currie thinks he is not good enough to marry
his daughter. His family status is not as high and proud like the Curries.
He and Hagar soon marry. Bram Shipley cannot express his feelings with words
to Hagar so he uses sex, to express his feelings. His first marriage to Clara must of
been completely different because with Hagar he can never express how he feels for
her. He first tries to impress her by buying her a glass decanter to give a taste of her old
life, since Bram isn’t that rich. She acts like the gift means nothing to her. He always try
to do what was best for Hagar.
Bram Shipley is not known to be a good business man. Hagar makes mention to
this a few times in the novel. All his plans seem to go wrong. Either having a bad
growing season, or by buying animals.
Bram’s character soon begins to grow worse. He drinks and when he is walking ,
he urinates on the Currie store steps. Hagar is embarrassed of him in public and she
never goes to town with him. Due to one incident to do with his talking about woman’s
undergarments. Hagar soon leaves Bram after years of the farm failing. She takes John
with her when she goes. When Hagar is leaving Bram just says one thing to her “hard
boil a few eggs for the trip”. If Bram might of said something, Hagar might not of left.
When Bram is much older, he becomes an alcoholic. John medicates him with a
homemade brew to try to take the suffering away. When Hagar returns , she can hardly
recognize Bram. She says he lost his figure, he has gray hair, and barely ever speaks.
Bram shortly dies after Hagar returns.
John Shipley was always favoured over Marvin. When he was younger , Hagar
always thought he was going to turn out as a Currie. That is a reason why Hagar always
favoured him. When Hagar leaves Bram she takes John with her.
Then, when John goes back home to the farm. He learns that Bram is sick. He
looks after his father by making home brewed liquor to try to mediate his father. He
deeply cares about his father and doesn’t want his father to suffer. After his fathers, we
get to see the emotional side of Bram. He actually breaks into tears and expresses how
he really felt about Bram. Unlike Hagar, who doesn’t say anything or show any feelings
towards his death. The incident at the cemetery reveals something else about the
character that Hagar labelled him throughout the novel. Some sort of hero. When they
arrive to the cemetery, the Stone Angel is knocked over and the lips are covered with
lipstick. He tries to push up the Stone Angel he cusses and sweats, but still he cannot
put it upright. He is then questioned by Hagar about the statue. He denies all claims
made against him. That reveals that he isn’t truly a Currie. Since he lies and makes
excuses about petty little things.
John meets Arlene who Hagar doesn’t approve of. But still decides to be with
her, no matter what his family thinks. Which is Hagar being hypocritical, since her father
did the same thing with her. John was always rebellious like his father which, is another
trait for him. He then follows another trait that the Shipley’s tend to have, alcoholism.
One night when he and his girlfriend returned from a night of drinking and dancing, he
drove drunk and got into an accident. He was rushed to the hospital. His emotion is
shown again, when he asks how was his girlfriend. Hagar lies to him, saying his
girlfriend was fine. John then asks if he could have some morphine to ease the pain. He
then realizes that there is nothing Hagar can do. John then dies.
Hagar is the main character in the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Hagar is
very bitter. She’s bitter that her mother too weak to have her. Also that her brothers,
were too weak to stand up against her in her childhood. She is also very bitter towards
against Doris. Always making fun of her size and the way she represents herself. Hagar
was rejected from the start from her father. Her father was greatly concerned with the
dynasty of the family. He knew she was smart but she couldn’t carry the name due to
the fact she was a woman.
As Hagar grew up, her father allowed her to go to university. Then, when she
returned to Manawaka she decided to become a teacher. Hagar’s father would not allow
this. Mr. Currie wanted her to get married and settle down. Hagar goes to a dance and
meets Bram Shipley. One reason to annoy her father, and because of Bram’s
manliness. Another one of Hagar’s traits soon appears, her lack of compassion. On
their wedding night, Bram buys her a glass decanter. To try to impress her, and give her
a taste of her old life. She acts like it was nothing. Another incident is when Soldier is
missing. Bram looks for him and the next day he finds him dead. Hagar shows no
remorse for him. Another example is when, Marvin is going to war. She just acts like it
was everyday thing and didn’t even show any love.
By the end of the novel we see Hagar’s character progress into something more
human by, showing compassion and realizing her mistakes. She realizes if she hadn’t of
left Bram, he would of lived much longer. If she was more of a mother figure maybe john
wouldn’t taken after his father. Many of the deaths in the novel were interconnected with
Hagar’s character. Hagar always realizes that she wasn’t living the life she wanted, but
instead living the life her father always wanted for her. Which, makes it sad when Hagar
finally realizes how she acted and the way other people must of thought of her.
Made up Questions
Chapter 1
1. Why does Hagar feel that her mother is weak? Hagar feels that her mother is
weak because she died when she was giving birth to Hagar. This later greatly
affects in her life, with every loved one.
2. Why does Hagar hate weakness? Hagar hates weakness because her mother
died giving birth. Also her father was very strict and never did show any
weakness or any kind when Hagar was growing up.
Chapter 2
1. Describe how Mr. Currie felt about the marriage of his daughter to a Shipley. Mr.
Currie did not want his daughter to merry a Shipley because the family was a
lower status then theirs. Mr Currie was also afraid that he would be the laughing
stock of town. He thought his daughter could of done much better. He only
wanted to keep the family name so it didn’t really matter if she married or not.
2. In your opinion how would you describe Bram’s and Hagar’s marriage? In my
opinion I think the marriage is very one sided. Bram tries everyone to make her
happy at first by buying her a cut-glass decanter. To try to bring her style life she
is accustomed to back into her life. But after a while he barely tries try to impress
her. Hagar never opens up to Bram. She always brings out the bad things in
Bram and also every time he fails. Hagar is very negative towards him.
Chapter 3
1. Is the death of Bram’s Horse, Soldier significant to the novel? Yes I do think it is
quite significant because Hagar uses it as another thing to hold against Bram.
Since everything Bram invests usually ends up falling and losing money. It is also
significant because it’s a death that Hagar had no control over.
2. Is Hagar very supportive of Bram while they’re married? No I don’t think Hagar is
very supportive of Bram while they’re married because whenever Bram does
something wrong or invests in something wrong , Hagar always mocks him and
tries to make him feel weak.
Chapter 4
1. At the beginning of chapter four , while they’re waiting to see the doctor. Does
Hagar character appear to be getting weaker? Explain. Yes we begin to see
Hagar’s character weaken because she can’t remember what x-ray she is getting
done today. She in dependent on Doris to get her there and to remember what
she is getting done. That is unlike Hagar at a younger age.
2. Why was Hagar so furious with Bram? Hagar was so furious with Bram because
late one night when he was drinking, he urinated on the stairs at the Currie store.
Hagar seemed to be embarrassed and quite furious with Bram who was cussing
back at her.
Chapter 5
1. What does Hagar take before she runs away from Marvin and Doris? Hagar takes
her old age pension check. So she would be able to take a bus and also be able
to purchase food.
2. Why do you think Hagar runs away? Explain. I think Hagar runs away to try to get
her independence back. When she is home Marvin and Doris do everything for
her and makes all her choices for her. Hagar might of got sick of this. So she
decided to run away to feel like her old self .
Chapter 6
1. What does Hagar take from Murray Lees that makes her feel more relaxed?
Hagar takes a cigarette from Murray Lees which makes her more relaxed. We
don’t know if Hagar ever did smoke but it just might make her feel younger.
2. Did Hagar want john to go to university? Yes Hagar wanted John to go to
university but she did not have enough money to allow him to. Mr Oatley gave
him a job so he could begin saving money to be able to go to university. Just like
his mother had went to university.
Chapter 7
1. Why does Hagar tell Mr. Oatley that her brother died, when really it was Bram?
Hagar says it was her brother died instead of her husband because she didn’t
feel like they were still married all those years they were apart.
2. How did John medicate Bram when he was sick? While Bram was sick, John
used to make home brew liquor and use to give it to Bram. John did this so his
father wouldn’t suffer while he was dying.
Chapter 8
1. Should of Hagar of killed the seagull? Was this a moment of missed opportunity?
Yes Hagar should of killed the seagull because later on it gets torn into pieces by
two dogs. Yes this was a moment of miss opportunity because she could of killed
the animal and it wouldn’t of suffered.
2. How does Murray Lees son die? While Murray Lees and his wife were out they
left their son home alone. A fire breaks out. He was trapped in the fire. Mr. Lees
feels it was his felt for his son’s death.
Chapter 9
1. Does Hagar feel that Murray Lees betrayed her? No I don’t think Hagar feels that
way because he was the only person Hagar showed remorse for and she felt
young again when she was talking to him.
2. Is Hagar glad to see Marvin? Hagar is relieved that Marvin has come to get her.
Their relationship seems to be getting better as Hagar is getting weaker by old
age.
Chapter 10
1. Do you feel Hagar lived the way she wanted to live life? Explain. I think when
Hagar is lying in the hospital she realizes how she treated people throughout her
life. And now wishes she had of changed. Hagar might of realized if she was open
Bram might of lived longer. John might not of become an alcoholic. That Marvin
would know from an early age that Hagar favoured him over John.
2. Do you feel pity for Hagar? Yes I do feel pity for Hagar because when she is in the
hospital dying, she realizes all the mistakes she done in life, and now it is too late
to change them.